Nigeria has reiterated its call for permanent representation on the Security Council of the United Nations.
President Bola Tinubu made the call on Thursday while addressing delegates at the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, United States.
Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said that the world of 2026 cannot “remain captive to the distribution of power in 1945”.
“Nigeria stands by the charter and its promise of a world in which diplomacy prevails over coercion, cooperation over isolation and international law over arbitrary exercise of power.
“Mr President, the reform of this institution must begin with the reconstitution of the Security Council, for the world of 2026 cannot remain captive to distribution of power in 1945,” he told the delegates.
According to him, development cannot take root while violence repeatedly uproots livelihoods, and peace cannot endure while injustice and exclusion replenish the ranks of those who threaten it.
He also said that Africa must move beyond its historical role as an exporter of raw materials for greater value addition, manufacturing, technological innovation, and knowledge-driven growth.
Tinubu also called for stronger international cooperation to tackle terrorism and other transnational security threats, urging countries to share intelligence, strengthen institutions, disrupt the financing of violence and prevent illegal weapons from crossing borders.
He said terrorism, organised crime, cyberattacks and illicit finance continued to exploit gaps between national security responses.
Tinubu said Nigeria’s experience with Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups showed that military victories required lasting foundations in education, economic opportunity, accountable governance and communities whose rights and dignity were protected.
He also highlighted insecurity in the Sahel, warning that instability in one country could threaten neighbouring states, displace populations and undermine regional integration and democratic governance.
The President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation through ECOWAS and the African Union, while calling for greater attention to the root causes of violent extremism.
On conflicts beyond Africa, Tinubu urged urgent diplomacy on Sudan and other crises, calling for protection of civilians, humanitarian access, dialogue, reconciliation, inclusive political processes and stronger investment in peacebuilding and prevention.
Shettima said on Monday that Nigeria’s engagements at the session would be guided by the country’s national interest, commitment to multilateralism, and President Tinubu’s advocacy for reforms of global institutions to conform with contemporary economic and demographic realities.
Nigeria has already had engagements and reached agreements since the UN event began, including strengthening collaboration with Italy to implement the proposed Global Partnership for Education (GPE) financing campaign targeted at mobilising $5 billion for education financing worldwide.
The Federal Government also signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States of America to boost the development of Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Sector.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly between the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and the US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, at the Nigerian Mission House in New York, United States, was described as a future-driven framework that opens the way for both countries to collaborate on geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure, and technical capacity.